Even with good grades and test scores, as long as human beings on the admission committee are reading the application, there is a chance of rejection. Check the institutions listed in the threads on automatic admission for specific stats (Admissions Forum) and automatic scholarships for stats (Financial Aid Forum) to find at least one place where his stats guarantee admission, that your family can afford, that offers something very close to the currently targeted major, and where he could be happy as a student. That would be his true safety.